On Thursday, June 19th, in London, a court sentenced Chinese Ph.D. student Zou Zhenhao to life imprisonment for rape, with a minimum of 24 years before being eligible for parole.
The court had previously ruled in March that Zou Zhenhao had committed 28 offenses, including 11 counts of rape. He drugged and raped 10 women in both China and the UK.
Subsequently, 23 new victims came forward to accuse Zou Zhenhao of similar crimes.
The judge on Thursday pronounced the final verdict on Zou Zhenhao, stating that the defendant, an exceptionally intelligent “sexual predator,” posed a “highly dangerous” threat to society, leaving no choice but to sentence him to life imprisonment.
BBC Home Affairs reporter Daniel Sandford reported from the courtroom that 28-year-old Zou Zhenhao listened to the verdict through a translator, under the supervision of four police officers in the dock.
The prosecutor confirmed before sentencing that 24 new victims had come forward, and it is expected that the defendant will face additional charges.
Zou Zhenhao arrived in the UK in 2017 to study at Queen’s University, then went to London in 2019 for Master’s and Ph.D. studies at University College London (UCL).
According to previous court rulings, during his time at UCL from 2019 to 2024, Zou Zhenhao used online platforms and dating apps to meet women, mainly Chinese women, inviting them to his home under the guise of drinking or studying before drugging them.
He then filmed himself raping and sexually assaulting the women while unconscious, keeping some victims’ jewelry and clothing as souvenirs afterwards.
Of the confirmed criminal records, seven rape cases occurred in China during the COVID pandemic, with four rapes happening in London.
The lead detective investigating the case stated that Zou Zhenhao may be “one of the most prolific sexual offenders in UK history.”
Zou Zhenhao denied all charges when appearing in court, claiming that all interactions were consensual.
Hailing from a wealthy family in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, Zou Zhenhao flaunted Rolex watches, designer clothes, and underwent hair implants and cosmetic surgeries. His monthly apartment rent was as high as £4000.